CONTENTS

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CHAPTER 1 -- 1760-1779

Dr. Clarke's Birth -- Ancestry -- Family connections -- Hardy habits in childhood -- First religious impressions -- His father's school -- The tenth child -- Strange antipathy -- Unpromising scholarship -- Anecdote of the Rev. John Newton -- Classical Agriculture -- Displays a talent for poetry -- Materials of his juvenile library -- Studies magic-- The Christian Observer -- His religious education -- Dancing -- Providential deliverances -- Removes to Agherton -- Hears the Methodist preachers -- His conversion -- Sudden enlargement of his mind -- Studies astronomy -Conducts the family worship -- Andrew Coleman -- Sabbath-day labors in exhorting -- Studies Dialling and French -- Is apprenticed to Mr. Bennet, a Linen-merchant -- Tenderness of conscience -- Mr. Wesley offers to receive him into Kingswood school -- New friends -- Trials -- Unhappy state of mind -- Leaves Mr. Bennet

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CHAPTER 2 -- 1779-1782

His first sermon -- Is again invited to Kingswood -- Embarks for Liverpool -- The press-gang -- Journey to Bristol -- Unkind reception by Mr. and Mrs. Simpson -- The lost half-guinea -- Introduction to Mr. Wesley -- Further misunderstanding with Mrs. Simpson -- Bad state of the school at that time -- Departs for his first circuit -- Strictures on the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine

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CHAPTER 3 -- 1782-1787

His entrance on the work of a traveling preacher -- Juvenile appearance -- Qualifications for the ministry -- Effects of a sermon to a congregation of young persons -- Proceeds in the cultivation of his mind -- His rash vow -- Resolves to drink no more tea or coffee -- Is received into full connection -- Appointed to the Norwich circuit -- Hardships of his new station -Irreligious character of the people of Norfolk -- Mr. John Hampson -- Female preachers -- Journey to St. Austell -- Mr. Samuel Drew -- An inhospitable farmer -- Mr. Wesley's horse -- Injures his health by excessive labors -- His great popularity -- A persecutor converted -- Studies Chemistry and Alchemy -- Plymouth-dock circuit -- Five o'clock preaching -- His studies promoted -- The contumacious choir -- Mr. John Mason -- Godfrey's Cordial -- Is appointed to the Norman Isles -Dissatisfaction -- Visits Liverpool -- Becomes attached to Miss Mary Cooke -- Goes to his appointment -- Ill health -- A drunken soldier reclaimed -- Two Christian ladies -- Reads the Septuagint -- Obtains a copy of the Polyglott -- Account of his literary pursuits

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CHAPTER 4 -- 1787-1791

Accompanies Mr. Wesley to England -- The prayer of faith -- Opposition to his connection with Miss Cooke -- Returns to Guernsey -- Occurrences on the way -- His marriage -- Violent persecution -- Narrow escape from the fatal effects of extreme cold -- Introduces Methodism into Alderney -- In danger of shipwreck -- His account of the fertility of the Norman Isles questioned -Removal to Bristol -- Ill health -- Greatly enlarges his library -- Mr. Wesley's rule against preaching thrice a day -- Is appointed to the Dublin circuit -- Afflictions -- Divisions in the Dublin Society respecting the use of the Liturgy -- Remarks on the leaning of the Methodists towards the Church -- Establishes the Stranger's Friend Society -- Forms an acquaintance with a Turkish Jannisary -- Studies medicine -- Strange account concerning the transmutation of metals -- Death of Mr. Wesley -- Letter from Bishop Barnard -- Is appointed one of the seven trustees of Mr. Wesley's property

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CHAPTER 5 -- 1791-1798

Is appointed to the Manchester circuit -- Derives great benefit from the Buxton waters -Letter to Mr. Alexander Mather -- His rapid progress in Oriental learning -- The French Revolution -- Unguarded Strictures on Messrs. Bradburn and Benson -- Just censure of political preachers -- Ministers medicine to the poor -- Anecdote -- Death of his son Adam -- Removal to Liverpool -- Is waylaid and nearly murdered --Settlement of his father's family in Manchester -Appointed to London -- Circumstances that led to Mr. Butterworth's connection with the Methodists -- Preparations for his Commentary on the Scriptures -- His pamphlet on tobacco -Epigram -- Nearly loses his Notes on Job -- Mode of augmenting his library, and of repairing damaged manuscripts -- Early rising -- Social habits -- Excursion into Warwickshire for the benefit of his health -- Assists in establishing a soup society in Spitalfields -- Mr. Kilham

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CHAPTER 6 -- 1798-1807

Is re-appointed to Bristol -- Death of his father -- Scarcity of 1798 and 1799 -- Happiness in his family -- Frequently consulted in cases of conscience -- Publishes his translation of Sturm, and his Bibliographical Dictionary and Supplement --Tour in Cornwall -- Acquaintance with Mr. Charles Fox, the Orientalist -- Extraordinary feat of a madman -- Purchase of Meninski's Thesaurus -- Again appointed to Liverpool -- Founds the Philological Society of that town -Remarkable death-bed confession -- His health seriously affected by close application to study-The Rosetta Stone -- Death of his brother -- Supposed instance of spiritual communion -- Value set upon his ministry -- Re-appointed to Manchester -- Meets in class -- Morning occupations -- Death of his youngest daughter -- Publishes two learned works -- Connection with the Eclectic Review -Receives testimonials of regard from the Manchester Philological Society -- Is again appointed to London -- Numerous ministerial occupations -- Death of Mr. Pawson-- Is elected President of the Leeds Conference -- Anecdote of a Quaker and a countryman -- Official connection with the Bible Society -- Review of Holmes' Septuagint -- Opinion respecting Stonehenge -- Description of Old Sarum -- Visit to Wilton House, Wardour Castle, and Fonthill Abbey -- Receives diplomas of

M.A. and LL. D. from Aberdeen -- Acquaintance with Dr. Robert Morrison -- Endeavors to establish an Asylum for superannuated preachers -- Publishes the first volume of Succession of Sacred Literature * * *

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CHAPTER 7 -- 1808-1819

Is engaged by the Commissioners of Public Records to complete Rymer's Foedera -Draws up an Essay on the work -- Appointed a Sub-Commissioner -- Opinions of his brethren in the ministry on the subject -- Account of his labors under Government Retires into the country for the recovery of his health -- Value set upon his services by the Commissioners -- Resigns his appointment

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CHAPTER 8 -- 1808-1811

Becomes librarian of the Surrey Institution -- Publishes a narrative of the illness and death of Professor Porson -- Purchases the Mitchell Papers for the British Museum -- Correspondence with the Rev. James Creighton -- Letter to one of his daughters -- Is attacked by the Rev. T. Scott -Originates a plan for a new edition of the Polyglott -- Liberality of Mr. Butterworth -- Publishes the first part of his Commentary -- Correspondence with the Speaker of the House of Commons on the subject -- Draws up a list of books for the Bible Society's Translators in India -- Aversion to religious controversy -- Thinks of retiring from public life -- Character of Miss Mary Freeman Shepherd, and extracts from her letters -- Anecdotes of Mr. Cruden -- Goes to Ireland in the service of the Record Commissioners -- Opinion respecting the Round Towers -- An Irish chaise-driver -- Awful punishment of an ungodly clergyman -- Feelings on revisiting the scenes of his childhood -- Ministerial labors during his tour -- The Irish poor -- Visit to Maynooth -- Death of his mother

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CHAPTER 9 -- 1811-1821

Criticisms on the First Part of his Commentary -- His account of a Bible Society Meeting at Cambridge -- Immense labor bestowed upon his Commentary -- Poem of King Hart -- His opinion respecting the morals of Cambridge University -- Second visit to Ireland in the service of the Record Commission -- Remarkable conversion of a young lady from the Roman Catholic faith -An unfeeling host -- Is recalled to England by the Speaker -- Dines in the Hall of Christ church, Oxford -- His inscription in memory of Dr. John Uri -- Multiplicity of his engagements -- Is elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries -- Letter to the Speaker respecting his Commentary -Arranges the manuscripts of Archbishop Sharp -- Instance of his promptitude -- Suffers from spasmodic attacks -- Assists at the Organization of the Wesleyan Missionary Society -Acquaintance with Hugh Stuart Boyd -- Use of the Greek Article -- Resolves to retire into the country -- Opposition to his removal from Town -- Purchases an Estate near Liverpool, and names it Millbrook -- Nominally appointed to Manchester -- Engages in agriculture -- His philanthropic exertions -- Entertains twenty distressed sailors during three weeks -- Makes a tour in Scotland and Ireland -- Difference between the Scottish and Irish gentry-- Miserable state of the Irish peasantry -- Re-visits the scene of his boyhood -- Reception on his return to Millbrook -- Imminent danger -- Letter to Mr. Smith, a young Dissenting minister -- Mark of honor from America -- The two Buddhist Priests -- Letter from a clergyman respecting his Commentary -- Extinction of the Jewish Royal Family -- Noble visitants at Millbrook -- Tour in Cornwall -- Mr. Wesley's Biographers -- Death of Mrs. Butterworth -- Address of the Conference to George IV on his Accession -- Death of Mr. Benson -- Again visits his native country -- Fine specimen of Irish philanthropy -- Disappointments -- Coronation Fete at Millbrook -- Is elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy -- Visits Epworth -- Importance of the Persian and Arabic languages -Meeting of all the members of his family -- Remark on the conclusion of his Lives of the Wesley Family

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CHAPTER 10 -- 1822-1826

His Reply to Objections against his Commentary -- His Introduction to the Duke of Sussex -- A Day at Kensington Palace -- Letter from the Duke -- Loses some old friends -- Third time President of the Conference -- Establishes the Shetland Mission -- Chapel Debts -- Dreadful Hurricane -- Becomes a Member of the Geological and Royal Asiatic Societies -- Second letter to Mr. Smith, of Rotherham -- Goes to Scotland and Ireland -- Robert Burns -- Probable fall of Nelson's Monument in Edinburgh -- Goes in quest of the scene of Allan Ramasy's Gentle Shepherd -- External grandeur of the Scottish Metropolis -- Singular mode of conducting family worship -Thinks religion likely to flourish in Glasgow more than in Edinburgh -- His reply to the question "Is Methodism now what it has been?" -- Reflections on visiting the graves of his ancestors -Narrow escape from a party of Ribbonmen -- Goes to Cork -- Hostility of the Romish Priests to Scriptural instruction -- Suffers from over-exertion -- Causes of the misery of the Roman Catholic population -- Returns to England -- Opens the new chapel in Sheffield -- Accident on that occasion -- Sells Millbrook and removes to Haydon-hall, near London -- A serviceable pen -- Letter to the Missionaries in Shetland -- Again dines with the Duke of Sussex -- Missionary tours -- Letter from the Shetland Class-leaders -- Visit of the Duke of Sussex to Haydon-hall -- Letter to Mr. Smith, the Dissenting minister, on his marriage -- Animadversions on Missionary translations of the Scriptures -- Concludes his Commentary -- Affecting celebration of that event -- Journal of a tour in Shetland -- Death of Mr. Butterworth

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CHAPTER 11 -- 1826-1830

Opens a chapel in Stockpon -- Large collections -- Second visit of the Duke of Sussex to Haydon-hall -- Precautions against contagion in visiting the sick -- Dangerous accident -- Erects a chapel and forms a Sunday-school upon his estate -- Makes a large collection at Manchester -Anecdote -- A solitary watch-night -- Organs in Wesleyan-Methodist chapels -- The Eternal Sonship -- Journal of a tour in Shetland -- Makes large collections at Loughborough and Manchester -- Anecdote -- Publishes "The Traveler's Prayer" -- His anxiety on account of the Shetland Mission -- Letter to the Bishop of London -- Predilections for the Church -- Opens a new chapel in Halifax -- A singular request -- His attentions to the poor -- Is elected Fellow of the Eclectic Society in London -- Improvement in his health -- His New-Year resolutions -- His forebodings -- Complains -- His supposed intention to settle in Ireland -- Proof of his conjugal affection -- Makes a large collection at Salford -- Again visits the scene of his boyhood -Purchases a House at Port-Stuart -- Contributes to a lady's album -- His opinion on the Rite of Confirmation -- Presides at the Welsh District Meeting -- Hears his son's first sermon in Liverpool -- His conversational powers -- Abolition of West India slavery -- Letter from Mr. Wilberforce

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CHAPTER 12 -- 1830-1831

Establishes Schools in Ireland -- Preparation of the second edition of his Commentary, and subsequent sale of the copyright -- Letter from Mr. Case, of Canada, acknowledging his obligations to that work -- Dr. Clarke's opposition to the doctrine of Universal Restitution -- He visits Ireland -- Ascertains the state of the schools already established -- Institutes others -- Want of female instruction in Ireland -- Signs of decaying strength -- Caveats against wearing false hair -- Accident in traveling -- Causeless jealousy of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee -- Dr. Clarke severely rebukes them -- His forgiving disposition -- Is tired of preaching occasional sermons -- Is visited by a deputation from the British Museum -- Reaches Liverpool on his way to Ireland, but is prevented by stormy weather from proceeding -- Important letter in the Right Honorable E. G. Stanley, on the want of education in Ireland

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CHAPTER 13 -- 1831-1832

Is made a Supernumerary against his wish -- Suppression of his remonstrances by Mr. George Marsden -- Unsatisfactory explanations -- Coach accident -- Attends the death-bed of Mr. Scott of Pensford -- Interesting letter to the Duke of Sussex -- Is invited to visit the United States -Letter declining the invitation -- Forms one of a distinguished party at Kensington Palace -Missionary sermons -- Visits Ireland -- Illness -- Thinks the Irish require manufactures, not poor-laws -- Returns to England -- State of his Irish schools -- Failing health -- Remarkable sermon -- Goes to the Liverpool Conference -- His last sermon before the Preachers -- Prevalence of Cholera Morbus -- Reconciliation with his brethren -- Novel appointment -- Visits his youngest son at Frome -- Assists in the formation of a District Visiting Society -- Remarkable Collection at the Methodist chapel -- Opinion on Liturgical Reform -- Reprobates Irvingism -- His last sermon -- Returns to Haydon-hall -- Goes to Bayswater -- Is seized with Cholera Morbus -- His Death -Proposal in the Christian Advocate to erect a monument to his memory -- Measures for that purpose -- Attempt of his brethren to defeat the design -- Testimony of Conference to his character and attainments -- His Commentary not mentioned

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CHAPTER 14

His theological opinions -- Written Creed -- Uncompromisingly Arminian -- His sentiments on Christian Perfection, the Witness of the Spirit, Divine Prescience, and the Sonship of Christ

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CHAPTER 15

His publications -- His Commentary -- Mr. McNicol's statements concerning it -- Its extensive circulation in America -- Characteristic extracts from his Letter to a Preacher -- His pamphlet on the Abuse of Tobacco -- His published sermons -- His style of writing -- Extent of his library and museum -- His preparations for preaching -- His manner in the pulpit -- The number and matter of his discourses -- Testimonies to his talents and success as a preacher, by Messrs. Entwisle, McNicol, Everett, Beaumont, and Anderson

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CHAPTER 16

His general character -- Mr. McNicol's description of it -- Estimate of his learning, talents, &c. &c. -- His aversion to war -- Is eulogized by Mr. Beaumont --High testimony to his moral purity by Mr. H. Moore -- His personal appearance and habits -- His disinterestedness --His conversational powers -- Remarkably beneficent -- Domestic portraiture -- Conclusion

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APPENDIX

The historical sketch of the controversy concerning the Sonship of Christ, &c. &c.